2018 Week 2 (Pennsylvania)

2018 Week 2 (Pennsylvania)

Week 2 was definitely a road trip. Thursday night included a nearly three hour jaunt to southeastern Ohio and the Noble County Fair. The Caldwell Redskins play full-time at the Noble County Fairgrounds. However, during the annual fair, if they have a home game that weekend, it’s played on Thursday night and becomes a marquee event of the fair.

Similar to how Clarion County (PA) handles the Autumn Leaf Festival, however in order to attend the game you must pay to enter the fair. Admission to the stadium itself is then free. This $9 charge may seem a bit much for a high school game, but you do have an entire fair to check out before or after the game.

But, Caldwell slowly kept extending their lead. Eventually winning, 38-6. The game featured a light rain in the second half. However, the benefit of the grandstand is the nearly fully covered roof. After the game, it was a long, slow ride home.

Friday was a dilemma. I had plans to head to Greenville and stick around for their game against Grove City. Though, after watching them play Northwestern in Week 1 and Grove City’s annihilation of Fort LeBoeuf meant that I was hoping to find a better game. But, I was still stuck within about an hour of Greenville.

Of places I hadn’t attended in the past, it was Cambridge Springs-Saegertown or Conneaut-Meadville. The first game was expected to be one-sided (and it was), while CASH-MASH was expected to be close. Expected.

After returning home, it was a mix of options for Saturday. St. Clairsville (OH) had a 7pm game scheduled against Pomeroy Meigs. For most of the offseason, this was the plan. Either Western Beaver or Linsly would provide the matinee. Until Pine-Richland scheduled Hempfield for a Saturday afternoon. But, then Cameron County in Emporium scheduled their home opener for Saturday night. The only question was an afternoon game. The only real option was Summit Academy near Butler. It wasn’t the best game. There’s little real seating. But, Summit Academy gives you one of the most unique views in high school football.

A large number of fans sit beyond the north endzone up on the stepped hillside. Shielded by trees, it’s a nice, cool place to watch a game. It does provide a bit of obstruction. But, the unique view and cool comfort of sitting anywhere on the hillside on provided folding chairs or those who brought their own make it the place to be.

Now, this game never really stood a chance to be competitive. Cameron County entered the game on the heels of a 71-0 loss to Coudersport. The Red Raiders kept it respectable for the first quarter, though it was clear that Curwensville was the better team.

Curwensville went on to win, 58-6. After that, it was another long drive home. Nearly three hours after seeing a game up in the mountains at a beautiful small stadium settled in between two mountains, in a long valley. Definitely a fun and memorable night out at a game.